Hi. We are a design/style LA based company specializing in mixing eclectic styles on moderate budgets. Also we have a strange amount of fun blogging about all our design and style adventures. Right now I’m happy to say that I’m Target’s home spokesperson, bringing accessible/stylish design to the masses.

A New Place For Family Dinner

Sylvia’s Makeover: Dining Room

This dining room makes me so happy, so joyful. We had to cut a lot from the video to make it bite-sized for the digital audience, but one of the things that got edited out was Ricky saying that he really wanted to have family dinners around the table. It’s not that Sylvia and Riccardo rejected this idea, they just hated their dining room, it was a dumping ground for papers and mail but that was about it. They never ate there and while it was a cute room, it was lacking the love it needed.

The table was too big, and it was one of those high tables, like at a weird airport restaurant, that I find really uninviting. I understood why they chose not to hang out here. So, they sold their table and chairs and organized their paperwork so when we came in it was completely empty. The flooring was bad linoleum which could have been worse, but when Floor and Decor said they would donate the wood flooring for the project I jumped at the chance to make it wildly better.

We put paneling in the dining room, as you know, which is officially my favorite thing to do to an older house to add character. DO THIS. I explain the whole process in the master bedroom post. Additionally you might be noticing that there was indeed wood flooring under the linoleum but we didn’t find that out until it was too late and the new flooring was on site. The original floors were far too damaged to keep and would have needed days of repair work that we didn’t have. I explained more about this in the living room post (check it out).

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Once the paneling was up, it was such a pretty room. It has great windows and light and pretty moulding and architecture.

We painted the walls above the paneling a wonderful blue, (Newburyport Blue by Benjamin Moore) which is also my front door color and I LOVE it. I like to go darker in a dining room, since it’s more of a temporary space (meaning you don’t spend as much time in there as other rooms) you can do something bolder and cozier.

After that, it was just a matter of decorating that room with furniture that was more proportionate, stylish and functional.

Here you go:

I go back and forth on what my favorite room is in the house, but right now this is the winner. Everything is pretty simple in here – that Parsons table and classic windsor style chairs are a great match that feels both a little unexpected and yet not risky. The curtains (by Nate Berkus for Target) added so much to the space – their thick texture, and classic pattern elevated it to look modern and fresh.

There was a bit of a curtain debacle, however. We hired a seamstress off of Taskrabbit to hem all the curtains in the house and I was busy filming in the back room when she did all the measurements. It seemed like a no-brainer since all the curtain rods were in the whole house were hung at the moulding, but the moldings were at different heights in the various rooms, so when she brought them back, the day of the final install they were way too long in the dining room (thus the puddling). No big deal, but, no, that is not intentional. We ran out of time to have them re-sewn and these are too thick what with their open weave to be properly held up by hemming tape.

We cheated it in this photo but you can see the big old puddle in the first photo. I don’t hate a puddle, but I prefer a kiss. Should that be the name of my first album? Or just on my gravestone? The room had a few smaller pieces of furniture – this parsons bar/cabinet which was great:

I love that marble/brass lamp so much – it has a classic deco/modern feel to it. I had to, obviously, put in a framed photo of my kids in their house somewhere. That piece of art is an original collage that I thought was just so happy and fun (I’ve hoarded it for a while) and I thought it gave the dining room a lot of life.

I love the view of the living room from the dining room – its so inviting and that archway is so pretty and special.

The chandelier is from Target as well, which is great and so affordable, and the sisal rug was a last minute buy because the color of the wood table got lost on the wood flooring.

We needed something to break up the two dark tones, plus that rug has pretty metallic strips running through it.

This might be my favorite shot of the whole house makeover. It really shows how open it all flows and how the two spaces worked with each other to be inviting, fun happy and cohesive.

Wait. Strike that. This is my favorite shot:

I will forever hear her voice when I see this image – she was laughing and crying and it was so infectious. Her voice was full of such shock, joy and gratefulness. It will truly be something that makes me feel happy. Forever. Like tears kind of happy.

A huge thanks to Target for supporting this project. It’s not like they had written this into our agenda, it wasn’t on our 2016 projected partnership projects. I’m so proud that they are a company full of people that see the value in projects like this and create flexibility to be able to accomplish them. Based on your comments and shares I think that they’ve officially seen that this was the right thing to do. So thanks, you guys, for showing your support and love for both Target and this project.

Sylvia and her family are so grateful – they text me ALL THE TIME with little ‘thank you’s’ or the more frequent ‘I can’t stop crying’ from Riccardo (how sweet is that? he reads your comments and texts me all the time). It’s insanely touching and so amazing to hear.

I’m actually bawling right now as I write this. Maybe it’s because I’m on a flight, my first of three work trips to New York in the next three weeks, missing my kids desperately. Maybe it’s because being a working mom can feel so helpless, sad, endless, exhausting and even painful at times, despite feeling so empowering at others. Or maybe it’s because I know that I have someone, Sylvia, whom they love there in my absence (which makes me happy/tearful in a different way), and now I know that she, definitely, feels how valued she is by my family. This is not a normal situation to be in because most moms don’t get to makeover their nanny’s home. The whole thing was and will forever be such a wonderful and life-changing opportunity – for them and me. In case you missed the full reveal video:

Like I said (and as you can see from the video), this project is a Win, win, win.

(P. S. Thanks for all your many comments and support. I told my team that for the first time ever they were to delete any negative comments immediately before they could be read by Sylvia and her family (just in case, as there is a lot of ugly hate out there on the internet) but I’m happy to report they didn’t have to delete ONE comment. That’s amazing. Your comments brought us all to tears. She and Riccardo are so grateful for your positivity and I truly think they they now know there is love and support for them beyond their immediate community. Thank you, guys).

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My thumbs can’t type fast enough to include all of my happy thoughts, but I have so many! One thing I must s ay is THANK YOU for seeing that a good nanny/childcare provider is a good thing. Many many people expect to get childcare for $2.50 an hour or $20 for an 8-9 hour day…in other words next to nothing. From a SAHM who does occasional care for people (the appreciative ones, not the ones who think my very reasonable prices are too high) Thank you for sending the message that a warm, loving, hardworking nanny deserves the world and is so much more than just a warm body with supervisory skills. it would be a JOY to care for the kids of someone like you (home makeover or no!).

I love this whole makeover! It’s awesome that this family gets a beautiful new space. Also, I feel like this design is super accessible, which is awesome. I like when the site provides really high end design but also when it’s something I could do in my own house, and this fits the bill.

One of my favorite design posts ever! What a beautiful family, what a beautiful home. This is a testament to the power of friendship, of caring, of working together, and of love. Such goodness in a such a short amount of time. Everyone’s a winner here.

Thank you MaryMargaret. As a reader new to this site, I was impressed by your comment. It is so important to remember the mutually fulfilling symbiosis that can occur between people who share so much. Human relationships. So lovely. And Sylvia’s laughter is wonderful!
Thank you Emily for doing this for the family of the woman who takes care of your children. I live in NYC where I often see women taken advantage of, their family lives and children do not get a second thought.
Also, your beautiful makeover made me grateful for my tiny, yet sweet NY apartment which I share with my husband and son.

Reading through and taking notes on literally everything – how to break up two dark objects (with a lighter rug), how to create a cohesive feel from room to room, how to be a better person… You know, the usual)) Seriously, Emily, I’ve got no words – just so much respect for you and your team.

Also, I bought that same chandelier for my office, and I’m so freaking excited that I did so BEFORE you blogged about it and it was all sold out. 🙂 We all know how the brass mirror situation turned out.. 😉 Speaking of which, HOW DID YOU GET YOUR HANDS ON ANOTHER ONE?! Pleeeeeeease tell Target to bring those back…

I never comment on blogs because I’m lazy and greedy like that but I just can’t stop smiling. I actually cried watching the video which surprised even me. This is beautiful. They are beautiful people and it just all screams LOVE.

I haven’t commented on the other posts in this series, but had to at least once. What an awesome job, what an awesome donation from Target, and I’ve been looking for a chandelier like in the dining room and NEVER would have thought to go to the Target website for that. Win/Win for me too!

First of all, I love the HUMAN aspect of this makeover. There is a lot of beauty in this story and it begins and ends with love. Then, there is the beauty of the design/makeover: LOVE IT – ALL of it! I appreciate that relatively inexpensive (please note that “inexpensive” does not equate cheap or even affordable to everyone) furniture and decor that can be used to make a home beautiful, inviting, and magazine worthy. (My favorite makeovers always include items I could afford to use in my own home.) Well done Emily.

Holy fabulous! Congratulations, Sylvia. The work you do is so important, and the love you give to those kiddos is something that will shape the kind of people they are for the rest of their lives. How lucky they are to have such a positive energy caring for them! Just know that your work isn’t JUST calming toddler meltdowns or changing diapers. It is an eternal gift that they’ll take with them, and eventually, pass on to their own children.

On a lesser side note, I cannot believe that chandelier is from Target. They’re killing it lately!

Whenever I read these posts, I get a lump in my throat just seeing their excitement as a family. We don’t have a nanny, but we’ve sent our two boys to Nina’s in-home daycare from when they were 12 weeks old, and I identify with the sentiment that there’s nothing we wouldn’t do for the person who loves our boys as much as she does (and who they love too). I know they are becoming good people in part because of her, so while I miss them during the day, I wouldn’t have them anywhere else. It’s obvious how much you value Sylvia and her family – and it’s helped me remember how much I value Nina, so thank you. (Ok, this lump in my throat is too big. Back to work.)
Also – what a beautifully designed home. Thanks for sharing this.

so so so gorgeous. i love that it’s so simple but it’s got the makings just to be there forever and make people content at being there forever. these people are so deserving. and i’m glad you’re able to give them a gorgeous home!!

This might be one of my favorite makeovers you’ve ever done. You are both talented and kind, and Target was extraordinarily generous. I already shop at Target (like, a lot. . .) but this makes me like them even more. You are so fortunate to have good and reliable childcare, and you are very thoughtful to both acknowledge that and recognize Sylvia and her family in such a meaningful way.

I have tears reading this! Soo beautiful.. all of it. Warms my heart. I was listening to a sermon on what we do in our world that is often filled with hate, crime and sorrow and Mother Theresa said simply/ to love each other and show love to each other. That is exactly what you are doing! Not only by loving this beautiful family but by sharing it with all of us! You are spreading the message of love in the most beautiful way you know how, through design. Every single day they will feel happier in their home as a result of this makeover, bravo!!!

Absolutely loved this entire makeover! As soon as I saw the new living room, I thought, “THAT is how I want my LR to look like.” (new home-owner here in the process of a gut-renovation). Who knew Target had such great looking stuff!?

I found the tip about going dark in a dining room extremely helpful. I really like this one paint color but think it might be too dark for the bedroom – maybe I’ll use it for the DR instead! Love the curtains, love the lights, love everything. And especially Sylvia’s infectious laugh! It was a joy reading about your friendship with her family.

HMMM… Its definitely more traditional than midcentury. but you could do floor to ceiling (almost like 70’s vertical paneling?). I’ll think about it. You’d think there would be some way to apply it …. although honestly if your house isn’t too midcentury then it might be fine! A ranch house isn’t exactly a palm springs icon … its actually all Brian and I dream of – open space, only one story …kids can run everywhere without us worried about stairs … sorry. drinking a glass of win/watching the batch and brain is letting things out of my fingers 🙂

I love everything about this makeover. You made every single room look put together, stylish and full of personality. It doesn’t even look like the same house!

I have a question about something. Since they rent, is there ever a worry the landlord in these situations?? With all of the upgrades, do you worry their rent will be raised at the end of their lease to reflect the way the house looks now? I know rents i the LA area are insane right now. Would a landlord in this situation take advantage and try to get a lot more rent now? I don’t mean to be a downer. I’m just really curious how that works. Is there a contract that states the landlord won’t raise the rent for a certain amount of time??? I’ve been thinking about this since the first post in this series.

YES. I do worry about this and I know that they do secretly, too. They asked the landlord before and I had to get on the phone and tell them that they for sure weren’t going to have to pay anything. I trust that the landlord (who might be reading this) knows that this family deserves this home, at the price they pay now (which is still a good payment, by the way) will stay the same. I trust that the landlord is a good person who sees the joy that this brought to the family. I also trust that they know that I’ll take action, legally, if Sylvia and her family get displaced in any way.

Loved this makeover so much! It’s so lovely that you made a them home that reflects them and their needs and tastes.
Kudos to Target for helping in this endeavor. Now I have to see how I can shop Target from Italy!

I don’t think I’ve ever commented before (though been a reader for a long time) but I had to add my praise and appreciation to you, Emily, your team and Target (and all the other amazing companies who donated product) for this gorgeous makeover for – what sounds like – a truly deserving, hardworking and very likable family! Thank you, Sylvia, Riccardo and Ricky for allowing strangers into your lovely home and for sharing a bit about your lives. Emily – thank you for being refreshingly real and also extremely likable (while being crazy talented too!).

The whole thing is just fantastic! I love how happy all the spaces are. It really seems to match the family well.

I have a question about the chandelier in the Dining Room. I bought it for my guest room, but want to hang it closer to the ceiling. Do you think it could be hung as more of a semi flush mount? Would that look weird?

Oh my wow. It is just so beautiful! I want to live there and have Sylvia be my nanny too :). I like the pairing of the rug with the tale with the chairs- so cute! Target is officially my favorite store.

I have watched the video several times. Sylvia and Riccardo’s house looks gorgeous! I cannot think of a better way to share your talent and show love for the woman who cherishes your children. They appear to be a loving family and the light, comfort and love brought to them by EHD is awesome! Enjoy your new home sweet family!

I love this family! What wonderful people and I love, love, love all the changes you have made in their home. The paneling is beautiful and I loved the arched doorways. It must have been so hard for Sylvia to work all day in your beautiful home and then go home to a home that didn’t fit her warm, loving personality. Now she can go home and recuperate in a beautiful space of her own….not that taking care of your two would be exhausting or anything! Sweet, sweet husband and son and their story is heartwarming.

I have commented previously on what an amazing project this is, but man, I LOVE this dining room. Like, I want the whole thing in my house. Also, it warms my heart to hear that there have not been any negative comments on this series. There is way too much real hate and hurt in the world to bring it into something so lovely.

I love this makeover, but I cry every time I read a post. And the video? Sobs. So happy you have a wonderful woman to help you raise your kids, and so happy you could give back to her in this very special way (in addition to compensating her well, of course).

This is such a beautiful series. I love what you have done for this family. The house looks amazing! Target’s decor is crazy awesome! I couldn’t believe when I read the chandelier was from Target. And the paint colors are perfection.
What color white did you use for all of the trim and ceiling?

This is such a refreshing and beautiful thing you guys have done. I never comment here but just want to hug you and say what a blessing you have been to this family. And what a beautiful thing that they are such a blessing to you in return. It does my heart good to see people truly caring for others, especially in our hurting country today. Apart from the beautiful work you did, I will always remember you now for your generosity to this much deserved family.

Emily, this is by far, my favorite project you’ve done and not just for the feelies ( and they are some good feelies), but also for the design, which is a vote for affordable beauty if I’ve ever seen it and cause’ I want to move in, even thought it’s not my style. It’s wonderful. I’ve already got my husband primed for the fact that the paneling will be happening in our den. As a working mom, I feel all the same conflicts as you and while I’ve told the women at my daughter’s Montessori school how important they are to me, I really need to find a better way to express my gratitude. I’m glad you got the chance to show Sylvia how you feel about her. Sylvia, having my baby was a battle too. I hope you’ve been able to shake off the pain of loss, but I’m sure you’ve realized, like me, that the losses inform much of your love for Ricky. Sometimes I think I’ll break under the weight of love and frankly, the irrational, yet totally realistic fears of losing my daughter; how close I was to not having her and how fragile life seems now that she’s here. Your story makes me want to be even stronger for her. How generous and wonderful you are that you do such an amazing job with Emily’s kids. Target, you rock. I will continue to give you most of my money (ha, but true) and feel good about it. I worked for Target all through my college years and never found a reason to dislike the company – these days, that says a lot. Glad I can still feel good about shopping with you all. Ricky, your masks are cool. I kinda need one now, because we all need to see a 40 year old, skinny, redheaded woman walking around in one, right?

I’ll say it again – hands down, one of my most favorite makeover posts ever. The before and after was breathtaking but I also loved it because it was accessible, warm and friendly and so full of color! You truly made a pretty bones house into a lovely home. I loved it! I can’t even watch the video again because so many tears but I absolutely loved the reactions, the laughter and the crying. SO many good emotions – which is SO needed!

I sincerely hope that Target sees the WIN in this and wants to do more. I could totally see a Target home makeover series happening for deserving people – it would resonate so well with so many people!

I have enjoyed every post in this series. There is so much value here – styling a small space, working with color, balancing family coziness & good design. I love every single room. Bravo! Posts like these help inspire my own creativity. This was such a smart partnership – I was quite impressed with the quality and design of the Target items, and if I could I would go buy them all.

WOW! Emily I thought you were just the cutest thing when you won Design Star and now I know you are, without a doubt, the coolest designer out there is blogland. Many kudos to you, your team, Target and Sylvia and her family for their willingness to have this makeover revealed on the internet. It’s absolutely fantastic what everyone has come together to do for an amazing family. I wish them many happy years to come in their beautiful home and much success to you and the fine design team you’ve assembled. And I’ll keep visiting my local Target!

Emily, this makeover was truly special. I am so blown away by the whole story! Ricky’s room is my favorite because….luchador masks!!! He is one awesome kid! Thanks so much for doing this and for sharing it with all of us. You shined a light on a very special person in your life who so many would take for granted. Sylvia is such a joyful person and now she has a joyful house to reflect her personality.

I wanted to reserve my comments until this series of blog posts was complete, but you guys knocked it out of the park with this one. Just one correction: I would call this a win/win/win/win (for you in the beautiful design, for Sylvia’s family in their gorgeous new space, for Target and their sponsorship of such a great use for their beautiful products, and for us – your readers.

As amazing as these reveals have been, what I love the most about this is all the good and positive energy it’s putting out into a world that is more and more consumed with evil and hatred. You and your team and partners are truly amazing. Well done!

Emily! This has been one of my favorite home makeovers to follow. The way you updated this home, catering both to the needs of this lovely family, but also bringing out the charm of the house is undeniably awesome. Kudos, girl.

I’ve watched & re-watched this series several times now & cry every.single.time! As another comment said, I love the human aspect of this. They were so deserving & you were so giving & it just touches my heart their are people out there like you who are not only super talented, but selfless too! A definite WIN WIN! Kudos to you & your team.

This has been the best makeover to follow along on, what a blessing for everyone involved. It’s so special that you were able to provide this gift to them and to have found such a wonderful lady to nanny your babies. <3

i don’t usually comment, but since you said that the family is loving all the sweet comments, here is another!

we have a nanny, maria, who is a part of our family. she calls my son her other grandson and i always try to go out of my way to do special things for her, but unfortunately i don’t have your talent or skills 🙂 what a wonderful thing that you did for this family!! there is so much love in all the details, and it’s clear that it’s a win / win / win project. speaking of, i’m book-marking to copy when we re-do our apt next year.

I don’t think that any of us who have wrote these past entries will ever forget Sylvia, her family and what you’ve done for them. That’s like the Christmas story that gets repeated every year because it makes everyone feel good and warms the heart. You not only did wonders on their remodel you also captured the essence of their personalities in choosing the right furniture, accessories, and colors. As for Target, I said it before and say it again – with this sponsored remodel you’ve provided more than any advertising campaign could ever accomplish. I do hope, Target is reading along here and notices that almost every person answering here acknowledged their generosity and gave positive feedback.

I have a Target question for you- What’s the quality of the Target rugs? I’ve felt a few in the store and they don’t seem great but I’ve noticed that there a so many more options available online. The one in this post in really inexpensive. How do you think the quality would hold up in a living room? Is it soft at all?

I agree, I want to buy that rug but am wondering about it. What is the texture on bare feet? What is the backing, does it need something non-slip underneath. The silver strips seem like a nice special feature but I’m nervous to buy online. There are no reviews for it on the Target website.

Hooray Target! As if I didn’t already spend a bajillion dollars there as is. We’re on the cusp of buying those dining chairs, Emily, and I will call them Ricky chairs and hope my kiddo wants to hang out with us when he’s that age too. One question – does the gray read blue or is that from the walls? Either way we’re purchasing one color or another. Target, if you’re listening – keep these up! This is such a smart, kind way to showcase your awesome products!

I’ve never commented before but just had to after this post. Sylvia’s laugh/giggle is the best. What a beautiful way to show how much you value her and her family. I have a wonderful nanny that is beyond her worth in gold. I love her so much. I think we need to start a “Nanny Appreciation” makeovers section 🙂

I have not read others’ comments so sorry if I am being repetitive, but I hope they can get a real dining room table. I understand that the furniture is from Target, which does not carry large scale pieces. Maybe they could do a Target hack and put two tables together and make it look like one. All of the other furnishings seem to fit nicely in the other rooms. Can’t wait to see the next room!

I have loved reading through this entire series! It’s really beautiful what you’ve done for Sylvia, Riccardo and Ricky, from an aesthetic standpoint and from a human one. What a joyful space for a beautiful family. Love what you do.

This is such a small detail, but sometimes those are the biggest things I get from your work! The clear winerack on the bar cart, such a good idea! Keeps the visual weight down on such a small piece that can get overwhelmed quickly! Would love a post on something like that, 5 second ‘a-ha’ design tips. haha!

Beautiful! As a mom I so get what you mean and how much we appreciate others who love our kids! It means the world.
So awesome that you were able to do this for them.
Blessings to them!! Such a beautiful family!
And good job, Target!

I love Sylvia’s laugh. You are so lucky your kids get to hear her laugh like that. When she laughs then you start laughing, it is the sweetest thing. The mutual love and respect you have for one another just goes to show that it really does take all of us working together to raise our children. I am a WAHM too. Thanks for changing that “stay” to “work” …made me smile.

Great work! Amazing makeover. I watched that video 3 times so far and cried every time. They are such beautiful people. Sylvia’s laugh is so uplifting. Watching her and Ricardo together shows how much they love eachother. Great family. I am so glad they get to live in such a beautiful place

This makeover makes me happier than any other I’ve seen! It’s so wonderful to see such a loving, hardworking and humble family blessed by your gifts Emily! I hope their home feels like a huge hug every time they walk in!! x

Tears are just streaming down my face. What a lovely thing to do and a wonderful way to show appreciation to your nanny. I was able to see the love Sylvia has for your kids by the brief footage. Beautiful

Emily! First let me say that my (now 13 year old) daughter and I used to watch and root for you on Design Star years ago, and I’ve been a longtime blog reader but have never commented until now. I’m crying tears of joy watching the reveal video. I feel such pride just knowing people like you exist in the world! I can only wish that I could make my loved ones feel as happy and cherished as you made yours. I’m thrilled for this special family to be able to live life in such a lovely place. And, kudos to target!! I already spend hundreds (thousands?) of dollars there per year and it’s awesome to think that maybe some small part of my expenditure could possibly have helped someone else. All corporations should be so generous!! So wonderful to witness something so positive!!!

Yes, I second all the sincere comments here. This has been my favorite Emily Henderson makeover ever. The befores and afters are so completely different. It is incredible how you can transform a house to look STUNNING without buying extremely expensive furnishings. You are amazingly talented, Emily. Target is so fabulous for supporting you. And Sylvia and Riccardo seem like wonderful people. I smiled throughout the entire video. This entire series was happy and positive in a very relatable way. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS WITH US!

What a wonderful, thoughtful gift from EH to Sylvia and family. I think I represent Latinas caregivers from all over USA, when I say thank you for showing so much kindness. I also have been re-inspired to shop at Target after seeing this wonderful makeover! Affordable AND chic and expensive looking!

I love every single room and post on this and can’t help but cry with every read! As a working mom with an AMAZING nanny I can relate so much to all the feels. I wish I could do something to this scale for my nanny!

Oh my goodness! I painted my dining room last week almost the exact same color! I also have an older house, with white wainscoting, Windsor chairs, dark wood floors….
I’m going to Target tomorrow and I think I will get those curtains and accessories, since I’m already halfway there to getting the complete look! I hope Sylvia doesn’t mind if there’s a dining room in Virginia that’s looks just like hers. :c)

I’m just echoing the chorus here but my goodness! I never posted a comment on the internet before, I never ugly cried so much as I did while reading all these reveals at my lunch break!! This is so good ! Thank you! Thank you as an immigrant who 20 years ago did all kinds of service jobs including being a nanny (and also in LA!). Thank you, as a mom, who now sends her kids to daycare where they are loved and where the caregivers are some of the most awesome people I have ever met and they are probably grossly underpaid. Thank you, as a frustrated interior designer for showing that home decor can be accessible and budget friendly, and I’ll gladly go back to Target now and forgive them for compromising my credit card info 😉 And finally, thank you for being such a real person and sharing such a cool human experience. Sylvia and her family seem like great people and you are all lucky to have each other in your lives!

LOVED following this makeover. I was tearing up along with you guys. It’s like going back to your HGTV days but with the convenience and flexibility of reading a blog – so much anticipation with each post and really inspiring.

I can’t imagine anyone giving a negative comment about this makeover. It is hard, to be a good mom, to be a good wife, to be a good businesswoman, to be a good citizen and to be involved in community. I think this makeover shows the right kind of thing to be doing, in large or small ways, and that is why it is so in your face touching. It was hard to know how important the shelter was on a personal level because there were no stories. But we all relate somehow, and this is so great. Also, on a more practical, design note, it is nice to see most of a house done with normal people budget constraints. It looks so lovely and happy and it didn’t take millions to do it. Definitely a win, win, win!

I’ve loved the posts about this makeover. Sylvia and her family deserve a happy, loving space, as it’s just so apparent how much love they have to give….it’s oozing out in the pictures. This just all made me happy! Kudos to you and your team, Emily. A happy space really can have such a positive effect!

Emily, that little buffet would be perfect for our house, but the link takes you to a page that doesn’t show it and just says “the product is unavailable.” Did you get that piece in advance of its release? It’s not the usual page when a product is just sold out. I don’t know whether to be on the lookout for it in the future or not.

I am one of those lazy readers who never comments, but I am compelled to write after reading this series. This is my favorite thing you have ever done, for all the reasons everyone else listed – your authentic compassion and gratitude, seeing a wonderful hard-working family actually get something they deserve, a big corporation doing good, and design that is both inspirational and accessible. Love love love love! The dining room is my favorite room too and these posts have been chock full of useful info, like how to work with chair rails, and throwing down a lighter rug if the table color is similar to the floor. I will certainly be looking more closely at Target’s home furnishings after this! I hope we will see more of these types of makeovers in the future. You and your team are awesome!

This is just gorgeous and is just what I needed to see to finish up our dining space! Can you tell us what color of white you used for the paneling? Also, what sheen did you choose?

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Emily is a stylist, author and T.V. host with a strong commitment to vintage inspired approachable home style for every single person. Perfection is boring; Let’s get weird. learn more

Interior Design Blog by Emily Henderson

I started this interior design blog in 2010 as a journal of my style and home projects with the belief that design should be approachable, informational and accessible no matter what budget.

As a home style expert who has a strong commitment to peeling back the intimidating layers of the world of home decor, and showing how every person can have a beautiful home that represents their personality, no matter what the budget.

After styling for magazines and catalogues for years, I started my own interior design blog, won HGTV Design Star, and have gone on to host my own hit TV show Secrets from a Stylist, Author the book STYLED, and create the design firm Emily Henderson Design.

My motto has always been to write and publish on my blog what I personally want to read about.